Airline finalising testing on approved services

PNG Air is currently finalising testing on its systems in light of the recent PNG Independent Competition and Consumer Commission (ICCC) authorisation of the code-share agreement with Virgin Australia.
PNG Air chief executive officer Paul Abbot told The National that the airline was happy with the agreement.
Virgin Australia also welcomed the arrangement.
ICCC recently granted authorisation to PNG Air for a code-share agreement it is entering into with Virgin Australia for services between Port Moresby and Brisbane.
“The codeshare has been approved and we are finalising testing on our systems at this stage. We aim to have it available to the public by mid-July,” Abbot said.
The routes initially are: Port Moresby to Brisbane and vice versa; Brisbane to Adelaide and vice versa; Brisbane to Melbourne and vice versa; Brisbane to Perth and vice versa; Brisbane to Sydney and vice versa.
“In terms of benefits, customers will be able to book a seat from any of the 23 ports serviced in PNG by PNG Air to connect to any of the ports,” Abbot said.
“For example, you can book a PNG Air ticket from Kavieng to Sydney and return,
“Other benefits include check-in and baggage checked through to your end destination.
“This will make flying to ports in Australia easier and more convenient for Papua New Guineans and increase the options available to them.”
A Virgin Australia spokesperson told The National yesterday that Virgin Australia was proud to be entering into a code-share arrangement with PNG Air.
“Virgin Australia is proud to be entering into a code-share arrangement with PNG Air, as this will provide travellers with more options for flights between Brisbane and Port Moresby and within our wider domestic network,” the spokesman said.
“We look forward to providing more travel options for guests travelling from PNG once the code-share is in operation.”
ICCC Commissioner and chief executive officer Paulus Ain, while acknowledging that a free sale code-share arrangement was competitive, said the arrangement would allow a new carrier to enter the market.